Dear Friends,
As we come towards the end of another year I wonder what your reflections are as you look back and what your hopes are as you look forward. For many, throughout the world, these are uncertain times as they face an even more uncertain future. There are wars, conflicts, earthquakes, environmental disasters, political uncertainty, economic challenges…
When John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness 2000 years ago things were extremely uncertain for many then too. Many lived under the threat of occupation by an army that was ruthless, those that were rich were growing richer while the poor got poorer, and there was huge political instability. But into all this chaos John came with a message of hope. He testified to Jesus – the Light of the world – encouraging all to believe and trust in Jesus, declaring that the Word had become flesh and had come to dwell with humanity (Jn 1: 9, 14 Amp).
John broke the cultural norm of the day – he was born into a priestly family yet was not to be found in the Temple but in the wilderness. It was there he proclaimed the message that he had been given since the promise of his birth – ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’. John was a signpost pointing the way to Jesus, the Saviour of the world.
In these uncertain times it falls to us, God’s people, to declare that same message. When everything the world has put its trust and security in is being shaken we can declare through our lives and our witness that the Light shines in the dark and the darkness cannot and will not put the Light out (Jn 1: 5). Just as John’s message wasn’t confined within the four walls of the Temple, so our message is to be declared outside the four walls of our church buildings. We too are called to step aside from the cultural norm to put ourselves on the frontline and point to Jesus.
In his 1942 devotional, ‘Abundant Living’, E Stanley Jones, Methodist doctor and missionary to India, wrote, ‘The early Christians did not say in dismay: ‘Look what the world has come to’, but in delight, ‘Look what has come to the world’. They saw not merely the ruin, but the Resource for the reconstruction of that ruin. They saw not merely that sin did abound, but that grace did much more abound. On that assurance the pivot of history swung from blank despair, loss of moral nerve, and fatalism, to faith and confidence that at last sin had met its match’.
As we move through Advent to Christmas, we are reminded of all that happened in the past, but it is also a time to think of all that is to come, that the story isn’t finished yet. Jesus is coming again, not as he came 2,000 years ago, but in all his Father’s glory. When he comes the second time there will be no mistaking who he is, for every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father (Phil 2: 10-11).
We have a message to proclaim that is as relevant today as it has ever been. Our hope is in Christ. Our security is in Christ and our confidence is in Christ – Emmanuel, God with us.
May God open our eyes afresh to the wonder of Christmas as the Holy Spirit transforms us day-by-day to becoming messengers of the good news of Jesus Christ.
God bless you all, and may you have a truly blessed Christmas,
Jane